MORNINGS IN ARMADALE
Of a morning, the most crucial decision one has to make in Armadale is ‘where to go for brunch?’. Do you feel like middle eastern-inspired brunch creations and edgy interior design? Head to Moby. Are you in the mood for specialty coffee and a menu that combines brunch classics with fresh, Asian flavours? Mammoth. Or are you craving quaint, homey surrounds and Parisian-inspired fare? In that case, Le Petit Prince is the obvious choice. Rest assured wherever you choose, you’ll be dining at one of Melbourne’s foremost coffee houses.
Post-brunch, one might choose to tick off their list of grocery errands. For all things bread, look no further than Phillippa’s, a long-standing High Street institution where shelves abound with award-winning loaves of golden-crusted sourdough and cooked-to-perfection pastries. Up on Malvern Road are an array of gourmet grocery stores is also at your beck and call, including the likes of Toscano’s and Stocked. Epicurean delights are positively endless in your locale.
COOPER AND MILLA'S
Part-food store, part-eatery, enjoy gourmet fare and speciality coffee.
BRUNO & CO.
Satisfy your stomach and soul with hearty brunch creations, served in a homey setting.
PETER BOUCHIER
Find an extensive selection of free range meats at one of Melbourne’s premier butchers.
TOSCANO’S
Where fresh produce abounds, along with speciality deli items and ready-made meals.
“I grew up in Armadale and have lived there all my life. The beauty of the suburb is that it has actually got everything you need within walking distance. For instance, if you’re late from work and you want to cook something, it’s easy to duck into one of the shops and grab what you need, and then you’re home in 5-seconds. Armadale is in close proximity to most business districts in Melbourne, then on weekends you’ve got the train line if you want to go to the footy or head out and about. It’s quiet, it’s leafy, it’s close to everything. And yet, it’s so easy to reach out into the world and grab what you want.”
— Rob Mills, Director at Rob Mills Architecture and Interiors
WHITE STORY
A trove of elegant white shirts, linen Capri pants, ruffled dresses and fitted blazers.
INARTISAN
Inspired by the Australian bush, fill your new home with contemporary homewares and furniture from Inartisan.
AFTERNOONS IN ARMADALE
To many, afternoons in Armadale are synonymous with retail therapy. In the last few years, High Street has become one of Melbourne’s leading shopping strips, rivalling even the city’s most in-demand precincts. A walk down the picturesque strip reveals elegantly styled shop windows and coveted designer brands, the likes of Lee Mathews, Dion Lee, Zimmermann, Acne Studios and White Story included. If you have a penchant for beautiful objects and impeccable design, homewares stores and gift shops are also abundant along here.
Alternatively, you may want to spend your afternoon immersed in natural beauty, another attribute for which Armadale is renowned. Wide, canopied streets lined with mature plane trees are matched by some of the most enchanting parks Melbourne has to offer. Lap up the afternoon sun at the sublime Malvern Gardens with a picnic rug and a good book.
NIMBLE
Luxury activewear so beautiful, you’ll want to wear it on the days you’re not working out.
PRIMNESS
In a light-filled store, explore ethically designed garments, crafted jewellery pieces and exquisite ornaments.
Dining —
- 8Days Cafe
- Amaru
- Armadale Cellars
- Bouzy Bar à Vins
- Bruno & Co.
- Chez Bob
- Coin Laundry Cafe
- Cooper & Milla’s
- Gardiner & Field Cafe
- Giorgios Restaurant
- High Society
- Le Petite Prince
- Mammoth Cafe
- Moby
- Otter's Promise
- Sagra
- Sonny Chiba
- Sozai Restaurant
- Street Talk Espresso
- Toorak Cellars
- Walk Don’t Run
- Zia Rina's Cucina
SHOPPING —
- ACNE Studios
- Aesop
- Aje
- Assembly Label
- Bared Footwear
- Camilla & Marc
- COS
- Dion Lee
- Et Al Armadale
- Jac+Jack
- Lee Mathews
- Mecca Cosmetica
- Nimble Activewear
- Onepointsevenfour
- Phillippa’s Bakery
- Primness
- The Little Grocer
- White Story
- Woolworths Metro
- Zimmermann
RECREATION —
- Goodlife Health Club
- Happy Melon Studios
- Malvern Public Gardens
- Malvern Tennis Centre
- Missy Lui
- Orrong Romanis Reserve
- Toorak Park
- Union Street Gardens
- Willow Urban Retreat
EDUCATION —
- Armadale Primary School
- De La Salle College
- Lauriston Girls College
- Loreto Mandeville Hall
TRANSPORT —
- Armadale Train Station
- No.6 Tram
- No.16 Tram
UNION STREET GARDENS
This luscious garden oasis is just a 10-minute stroll from Armadale Manor.
MALVERN TENNIS CENTRE
Perfect your serve and hone your backhand among leafy surrounds.
TOORAK PARK
Throw a ball around with your canine companion or check out the local football on weekends.
ORRONG ROMANIS RESERVE
Comprised of an expansive, dog-friendly oval and a myriad of amenities.
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WILLOW
RETREAT
INTERVIEW WITH SHARON BASSAT
— Owner
Owner of Willow Urban Retreat and wellness extraordinaire, Sharon Bassat talks us through her vision for this holistic oasis, hidden away in a stunning heritage building on High Street.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about your wellness journey and the origins of Willow Urban Retreat?
S: I went to a wellness retreat about 8 years ago. It was my first week away after having three kids in three years. I spoke to a lovely integrated psychologist and she said I needed time for self nurture. I had all this guilt around being there, but when I came back, I realised I was actually a more compassionate mother, a better wife and an all round happier person. So then I started looking into what it is that makes us happy. How space and breath and pause foster a happier, more balanced lifestyle. I started to feel less guilty as I took some time away from time to time. And then I realised it wasn’t always easy to find the time to get away, to get on the plane, to take a week somewhere – that’s what sparked the idea for Willow. That idea of bringing that balance of mind, body and spirit back home.
Q: Why do you think a sanctuary like this so important in an inner-city location like Armadale?
S: In the inner-city we’re always rushing to work, rushing to the supermarket, everything is a rush. It can sometimes feel like there’s very little time for pause. Having a space like Willow allows you to take that time for retreat without having to travel far from home. Community is also really important to us here. We try and hold events each month just to engage the Armadale community; if people have time to be, and be present, we’ll be much more productive as people.
Q: Is there a particular spa treatment you would refer to a Willow first-timer?
S: I would say our signature massage; it’s very holistic and we use beautiful crystal bowls that allow vibrational levels to elevate. Our most popular massage, however, is the Blissful Marma, which activates the different chakras and uses Ayurveda aromatherapy oils. We do offer bespoke treatments too.
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WILLOW URBAN RETREAT
Treat yourself to one of Willow’s indulgent and holistic treatments, from remedial massages to gold-infused facials.
HAPPY MELON STUDIOS
Offering fun yet challenging Pilates workouts within a beautifully designed space.
AN ARMADALE EVENING
When the sun dips, residents of Armadale Manor are well and truly spoilt for choice with a world-class selection of dining spots sheer metres from their doorstep. Established institutions have paved the way for a plethora of innovative new restaurants, forming a varied yet discerning selection that ticks all the culinary boxes. Along High Street and down Beatty Avenue, enjoy a host of well-respected hospitality names; there’s Zia Rina’s Cucina, a homey Italian nook dishing up food only a real life Nonna could make; Sonny Chiba, a sleek Japanese eatery with beautiful interior design; and Bruno & Co, a European all-day diner with a hearty, wholesome menu.
Post-dinner, enjoy a nightcap at one of Armadale’s sophisticated watering holes. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle, Toorak Cellars is the wine hub of the suburb, a bottle shop and bar with an extensive catalogue of international and local drops. For something livelier, Bouzy Bar à Vins on High Street is inspired by the ‘quintessential Parisian wine bar’, offering decadent French food, a comprehensive wine list, frequent live music and a playful atmosphere.
BOUZY BAR À VINS
The vibrant younger sister of Entrecote, a plate of oysters at Bouzy is best washed down with a glass of fizz.
CHEZ BOB
Offering authentic French fare with the service to match, Chez Bob is a Melbourne institution.
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ZIA RINA’S
CUCINA
INTERVIEW WITH DANNY NATOLI
— Head chef
Just 700m from Armadale Manor, Zia Rina’s Cucina is a restaurant with a rich legacy; one Danny Natoli is honouring through an inspired, authentic and distinctly Italian approach to its reincarnation.
Q: What would you say is the signature dish here at Zia Rina’s and what would you recommend?
D: The signature is my nonno’s ragu, a combination of slow cooked beef, pork and fennel sausage, cloves, garlic and bay leaves. It’s a transporting dish; people come in and they smell it cooking and it takes them back to being at their grandparents’ house. It takes me back to when my Nonni was alive. When you smell that cooking, you really expect a little old lady to come out from the kitchen with another serve. And of course, the homemade cannoli is a must-try.
Q: What is the story behind Zia Rina’s?
D: We’re a local Southern Italian trattoria with beautiful Southern Italian and Australian varietal wines. Rina was actually my cousin. She was an amazing Southern Italian chef and she worked in and around restaurants in Melbourne for years. When Rina passed away, her sister asked me if I’d take over the restaurant, and in June of 2018, Adrian and I took over.
Q: Talk us through the wine list.
D: Our wine list focuses on the ‘minimal intervention’ style of wine making. So our sustainable ethos isn’t just reflected in the food; it’s in the wine as well. The actual list is small, but then we’ve also got our specials and our Mount Etna section. Etna is the strong feminine volcano of Sicily. They’re our special wines. Then there’s all the other Southern Italian Australian varietals; Vermentinos, Fianos. Interesting wines. We have warm and cold Sake on the menu too. There are enough places around selling Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, which people like, but you can really experience something different and unique here.
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TOORAK CELLARS
Another local favourite, Toorak Cellars is the home of Melbourne’s most coveted drops.
SONNY CHIBA
Nestled away on Beatty Avenue, Sonny Chiba offers premium Japanese fare in a beautiful space.
ARMADALE STATION
450m from your doorstep, be in the city in under 15-minutes.
NO.6 TRAM
Carrying passengers up High Street and down St Kilda Road, hop on at the end of your street.
